Valve



Feb. 7, 1939. s. J. NOQRDASV'ILROLQ VALVE Filed July 13, 1936 f 2 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR. fiiwsw J. a mwmwwm.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 7, 1939. s. J. NoRDsT RoM VALVE Filed July 13, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w d w I1! 1 umm INVENTOAR. sven J .Honosmm.

Y Y B ATTORNEY.

Patented at. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE VALVE Sven J. Nordstrom, Piedmont, Calii'., assignor to Merco Nordstrom Valve Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application July 13,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to valves, and particularly relates to plug valves of the lubricated type. According to the present invention, I provide a valve which utilizes the inherent resiliency of a metal plate or yoke to maintain the plug seated on its seat against lifting action of line or lubricant pressure, and I seal the exposed end of the plug by an arrangement of lubricant grooves in the seating surface of the plug and casing whereby it is not necessary to employ a stufling box to prevent leakage of line fluid from the valve. I use an operating handle for the valve which is more or less permanently connected therewith, and provision is made to lubricate the valve by making the handle hollow' to receiv' lubricant and providing a suitable connection-between the operating handle and the lubricating system of the plug. In the preferred embodiment the operating handle cooperates with the side pillars of the yoke construction to limit rotating movement of the valve to full open and full closed positions. The yoke also may be constructed so that should the holding means for the valve be rendered accidentally inoperative, the operating handle will retain the plug against complete removal.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a plug valve in which stuiling boxes and A further object is the provision of a valve having an inherently resilient metal member for maintaining the plug on its seat,.said member being normally-out of contact with line fluid.

A further object is-the provision of a plug valve 35 having an operating member which performs the multiple functions of a lubricant reservoir and rotationalstop, and prevents complete removal of the plug upon accidental removal of the plug holding means. it

A further object of the invention is the construction of a valve in a design which is suitable for manufacturefrom a variety of materials, such as acid resisting ceramics and alloys having brit-- tle characteristics.

These and other objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a preferred modification of the 50 invention in partial vertical section taken on line I-I of Figure 2;}

Figure 2' is a plan view of Figure 1, the operating handle being shown partially in section;

Figure 3'is a horizontal section taken on line 55 .m-III of, Figure 1;

similar packing means may be'entirely eliminated.

1936, Serial No. 90,358

Figure 4 shows a horizontal section taken on line IV--IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a further modification in vertical section on line 17-17 of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5; and

Figure 'I is a horizontal section taken on line VII-VII of Figure 5.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown a valve body or casing l0 having a passageway ll therethrough for flow of fluid and a tapered seat l2 extending trans! versely of the passageway in which there is seated a tapered plug ll having a port It therethroughadapted' to register with the passageway l l in open position of the valve. The valve body has two upright columns or pillars l6 and I1 at one end which preferably are integral with the casing, and are connected at their upper ends by a ring or flange H! which has a threaded bore i9 therethrough substantially coaxial with the 2 tapered seat l2. The plug l3 has an extension 22 at its larger end which extends into the space 23 provided between the pillars l6, I1 and the flange i8, and this extension is bored and threaded transversely of its axis at 24 to receive a valve operating handle 25 therein.

Means is provided for resiliently holding the plug on its seat with a minimum of friction. The threaded bore I! in the flange it! receives a resilient plate 21 of die forged or cast steel which is threaded therein. The plate 21 is centrally bored and threaded at 28 and is counterbored at 28 to receive a thrust disk which is forced against the hardened steel ball 32 in the conical recess 33 in the end of extension 22by a screw 35 3 threaded into the bore 28 and bearing against the thrust disk II. This plate 21 is heavy enough so that it will exert sufficient seating force to hold the plug in its seat against line fluid, and has suiiicient resilience so-that it will yield enough to enable jacking of the plug from its seat by lubricant pressure as will hereinafter appear. By adjusting the screw 35 the reacting resilient thrust exerted by the resilient plate 21 upon the plug may be increased or decreased as desired.

The screw '85 is locked in adjusted position by the lock nut. 36.

The lubricant system for the valve includes a lubricant chamber 4| formed at the smaller end of the plug by the plug and body, and a plurality of lubricant grooves in the seating surface of the plug and easing. Each blank wall of the plug has a longitudinal groove 42 which extends to the smaller end of the plug and communicates withthe chamber ll and at its top extends to a circumferential groove 43 which passes completely around the circumference of the plug adiacent its larger end. I prefer to form additionally a circumferential groove 44,

positioned opposite the similar circumferential groove 43, in the seat of the casing so that in lapping the plug into its seat there will be no possibility of forming a ridge in the seat. The lubricant grooves thus provide an annulus of lubricant about the larger end of the plug to prevent leakage of line fluid to the exterior at the larger end. At the other side of each blank wall of the plug there is a longitudinal groove 45 which terminates short of the circumferential groove 43 and short of the smaller end of the plug. The casing seat has four diametrically opposite dwarf longitudinal grooves 48 connected to the circumferential groove 44 in the seat, which are so disposed that when the valve is in fully opened or fully closed position the dwarf grooves 48 serve as a means of communication between the longitudinal grooves 45 and the circumferential grooves 43 and 44.

Lubricant is supplied to the plug lubricating system through a diametrical lubricant passageway 5I in the plug which is in communication with the longitudinal lubricant passageway 52 extending substantially axially of the plug and closed in any suitable manner at its outer end by a plug. The operating wrench or handle 25 is hollow and is threaded as indicated at 53 at its outer end to receive a lubricant compressing screw 54. Two or more check valve bodies 55 and 55 preferably are inserted in the handle to prevent reflux of lubricant therethrough when the lubricant screw 54 is removed.

As shown in Figure 2, the valve is in openv position with the handle 25 abutting right hand pillar I5 on the casing which thus serves as a stop to indicate the position of the valve. The valve is closed by turning the handle 25 to the left as there shown until the handle 25 abuts the end of the other pillar I1. The screw 35 is adjusted so that the plug will not be lifted to any appreciable extent by line pressure, the seating thrust being transmitted with a minimum of frictional resistance to turning by the ball 22 and thrust disk 8|, The valve is lubricated by inserting a stick of lubricant into the threaded bore 58 in the handle and forcing this lubricant by means of the lubricating screw 54 through the hollow handle down the longitudinal passageway 52 and through diametrical passageway 5I into the circumferential grooves 43 and 44, from which the lubricant is distributed in the full opened or full closed positions longitudinally of the valve surface by the longitudinal grooves 42 and 46 and dwarf grooves 48 to the lubricant chamber 4| at the smaller end of the plug. By developing sufficient pressure with the lubricant screw 54, the plug may be Jacked off its seat by the pressure transmitted to the lubricant chamber 4| and assisted to a slight extent by the vertical component of the pressure in the grooving system in the plug surface and seat, the resilient thrust of the plate 21 acting to reseat the valve on its lubricated seat. Should the plug be accidentally raised out of its seat the ring I8 will engage the handle 25 to prevent entire removal of the plug.

In the modification shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7, the valve is designed to be made of brittle material such as high silicon iron, ceramic material or the like. Because of the nature of this material it cannot be machined satisfactorily, and

age.

in the design of this valve the surfaces to be machined are reduced to a minimum, grinding being resorted to wherever possible. The valve comprises a body 55 of generally cylindrical form having smooth flange faces 56 and 51 at its ends. In order to enable this valve to be connected into a pipe line by screw threads, there are two end plates H and 12 bolted to the flange faces by means of four horizontal bolts 13, suitable gaskets 14 being interposed between the threaded flanges and the valve body faces to prevent leak- A tapered seat 15 is formed transversely of the passageway 15 through the valve body 65, this seat being ground or machined in the body in any suitable manner. A tapered plug 11 is seated in the seat and has a passageway 18 cored therethrough to communicate with the passageway 18 in open position of the valve. The seat in the casing is relieved at the larger end as indicated at 18, and the plug 11 has a flange 8| at its top partly filling this relieved area and overlying the tapered valve seat.

There are two lugs 82 and 83 formed on the top of the body integral therewith at the opposite ends thereof, these lugs having horizontal holes therein to receive transverse bolts 84 and 85 respectively. The yoke 55 is made of die forged or cast steel and has reduced ends 81 and 88 which are received in the lugs 82 and 88 and are transversely bored to allow the bolts 84 and 85 to pass therethrough, whereby the yoke is held in assembled position. The yoke 85 has a certain amount of inherent resilience due to its shape and to the material from which it is made. This yoke is bored and threaded centrally at 89 to receive a screw 9| adapted to be locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 82.

The larger end of the plug 11 has a diametrical recess in its larger end which receives a hollow operating handle 95 held in position by the screw 9| which bears thereon through a thrust disk 51, hardened steel ball 88 and seating disk 89. The stem or handle 95 is hollow and internally threaded to receive the lubricant screw IOI and has a transverse bore I02 which registers with a central cored hole I03 in the plug 11 to supply lubricant thereto. A gasketv I04 is inserted between the handle 95 and the bottom of slot 85 to prevent escape of lubricant. The cored central hole I03 communicates with a diametrical cored hole I05 which in turn communicates with the circumferential groove I05 formed in the plug surface. A lubricant chamber I01 is formed at the smaller end of the plug between the plug and casing, and two diametrically opposite longitudinal grooves I00 and I0! connect the circumferential groove I05 therewith.

In operation, the handle 95 is employed to rotate the valve between opened and closed position, and the ends of the lugs 82 and 83 serve as stops to limit rotation thereof. The plug is maintained seated by the resilient thrust of the yoke 85 transmitted by the screw 9|, disk 91, ball 98, disk 58 and handle 95 to the valve plug to maintain it onthe its seat against line pressure, and this thrust can be adjusted by rotating screw SI. The yoke 86 is not in contact with line fluid and therefore may be made of a die forging or cast steel which has the inherent resilience required for this purpose. The plug is lubricated and jacked as described in connection with the modification shown in Figures 1 to 4.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departure from the spirit or essential characteristics of the present invention 'The specific 'iorm described herein therefore is to be considered in'all respects as illustrative and not restrictive of the invention.

(What is claimed and desiredto be secure by United States Letters Patent is:--

1. A valve comprising a casing having a passageway therethrough for flow of fluid and a seat formed transversely of the passageway, a rotatable plug disposed in said seat and having a port therethrough adapted to register with the passageway in open position of the valve, an inherently resilient holding member at the larger 'end of the plug held in spaced relation with the casing, a hollow operating handle extending laterally from the plug between the holding memher and casing, the casing being formed to prevent removal of the valve in the absence of the holding means, and means to compress lubricant in the hollow handle to lubricate the valve.

2. A valve comprising a casing having a passageway therethrough for flow of fluid and a seat formed transversely of the passageway. a

rotatable plug disposed in said seat and having a port therethrough adapted to register with the passageway in open position of the valve, means at the larger end of the plug for resiliently holding the plug on its seat, means providing stops to limit the rotation of the plug, a hollow operating handle extending transversely of the plug axis detachably secured to the plug and adapted to cooperate with said stops and providing a reservoir for lubricant, and means for compressmg the lubricant in said reservoir to lubricate.

the seating surface of the plug and casing.

3. A plug valve comprising a casing having a passageway therethrough tor flow of fluid and a seat formed transversely of thepassageway,

urging the plug into its seat, a lubricant passage in the plug, a hollow handle for containing lubricant extending transversely of the plug axis and detachably secured to'the plug in fluid tight relationship to said lubricant passage, and a lubri-. cant compressing screw in said handle.

- 5. A plug valve comprising a casing having a' passageway therethrough for flow of fluid and a seat formed transversely of the passageway, a-

plug located in the seat and having a port therethrough adapted to register with the passageway in open position of the valve, means for resiliently urging the plug into its seat, a lubricant passage in the plus, a hollow handle for containing lubricant extending transversely of the plug axis and detachably secured to the plug in fluid tight relationship to said lubricant passage, a check valve in said handle, and a lubricant compressing screw in said handle.

6. A valve comprising a casing, having a passagewaytherethrough for flow of fluid and a tapered seat opened at the larger end formed transversely of the. passageway, a plug located in said seat and having a port therethrough adapted to register with the passageway in open position of the valve, a circumferential lubricant groove in the seating surface of the plug and casing to prevent escape of line fluid at the larger end of the plug, a hollow operating handle extending transversely of the plug axis at the larger, end of the plug and detachably secured to the plug, a

lubricant channel connecting the hollow handle with said circumferential groove, and inherently resilient means disposed at the side of the handle opposite the plug and secured to the casing tor maintaining the plug on its seat.

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